2 It is not of the truth, that is, it keeps not correspondency, or fellowship with the truth, and the reason is, because no Antichristian Doctrine, but it comes from the spirit of lying and murder, and such a spirit is the Devils spirit, John 8.48. Satan's intendment is to lye, and deceive, and murder mens souls; and that proceeds from the enmity betwixt Christ, and the seed of the Serpent, now the seed of the Serpent is not only Heretics, but Heretical Doctrine, and they strive to root out one another, Amos 7.10, 11. which shows what little fellowship falsehood hath with truth, 2 Cor. 6.14, 15. and therefore they would not suffer Christ to live, and so they persecuted the Apostles, because they spoke the word of truth.

2 It is not of the truth, that is, it keeps not correspondency, or fellowship with the truth, and the reason is, because no Antichristian Doctrin, but it comes from the spirit of lying and murther, and such a spirt is the Devills spirit, John 8.48. Satans intendment is to lye, and deceive, and murther mens souls; and that proceeds from the enmity betwixt Christ, and the seed of the Serpent, now the seed of the Serpent is not only Heretiques, but Hereticall Doctrin, and they strive to root out one another, Amos 7.10, 11. which shewes what little fellowship falshood hath with truth, 2 Cor. 6.14, 15. and therefore they would not suffer Christ to live, and so they persecuted the Apostles, because they spoke the word of truth.

Use. 1 May exhort all professors of the truth, to take heed of lying; if no lye be of the truth, then if you speak falsehood or lies, you walk not like your selves, such words come not from the Spirit of truth, but from the lying spirit, the spirit of wickedness and falsehood; and therefore what have the Children of the truth to do with falsehood, with false words, and false dealing? and especially take heed of false Doctrine for it is not of the truth, but lies; therefore have nothing to do with the spirit of falsehood, the spirit of Popery, or the spirit of separation, to draw you from the truth of Christ, from the communion of the Church.

Ʋse. 1 May exhort all professors of the truth, to take heed of lying; if no lye be of the truth, then if you speak falshood or lyes, you walk not like your selves, such words come not from the Spirit of truth, but from the lying spirit, the spirit of wickednesse and falshood; and therefore what have the Children of the truth to do with falshood, with false words, and false dealing? and especially take heed of false Doctrin for it is not of the truth, but lyes; therefore have nothing to do with the spirit of falshood, the spirit of Popery, or the spirit of seperation, to draw you from the truth of Christ, from the communion of the Church.

Use 2 If no Heresy be of the truth, then certainly it will never be for the truth; no stream riseth higher then the spring from whence it comes; if such Doctrine comes not from the truth, it will never rise so high as the truth; never look for true dealing from an Heretic that lies against the Gospel, and against his own conscience, never believe any Doctrine of theirs, for they aim at subverting; if they deal not truly with God, they will not deal truly with man, it is a conclusion of the council of Constance, fides non est servanda cum Haereticis, why? because they are Heretics; but you should know they were Heretics that swore it, and therefore they show such false dealing; therefore you shall never find any true honest dealing with Antichristian states in any negotiation.

Ʋse 2 If no Heresie be of the truth, then certainly it will never be for the truth; no stream riseth higher then the spring from whence it comes; if such Doctrin comes not from the truth, it will never rise so high as the truth; never look for true dealing from an Heretique that lyes against the Gospel, and against his own conscience, never beleeve any Doctrin of theirs, for they aim at subverting; if they deal not truly with God, they will not deal truly with man, it is a conclusion of the councill of Constance, fides non est servanda cum Haereticis, why? because they are Heretiques; but you should know they were Heretiques that swore it, and therefore they shew such false dealing; therefore you shall never finde any true honest dealing with Antichristian states in any negotiation.

Use 4. It may refute an Error of some, that say, As Anabaptism sprang from Luther, and Libertinism from Calvin, so Separation from Puritanism; but this cannot be, for no lye is of the truth, therefore these could not spring from any truth of Luther, or Calvin, or Puritanism.

Ʋse 4. It may refute an Errour of some, that say, As Anabaptisme sprang from Luther, and Libertinisme from Calvin, so Separation from Puritanism; but this cannot be, for no lye is of the truth, therefore these could not spring from any truth of Luther, or Calvin, or Puritanism.

Doct. Such as have received the unction of the Spirit, they know no Error, no false Doctrine is of the truth.

Doct. Such as have received the unction of the Spirit, they know no Errour, no false Doctrin is of the truth.

They know it, not only think so, but know it, and they know it.

1 From the contrariety that they see betwixt that unction of the Spirit which they have received, and that Doctrine; the Spirit of God in them teaches them to be humble, 2 Pet. 2.18. but the spirit of these false Doctors is ambitious, they speak great swelling words; this suites not with the Spirit of God, to look at their own ends, at their bellies, at their gain.

1 From the contrariety that they see betwixt that unction of the Spirit which they have received, and that Doctrin; the Spirit of God in them teaches them to be humble, 2 Pet. 2.18. but the spirit of these false Doctors is ambitious, they speak great swelling words; this suites not with the Spirit of God, to look at their own ends, at their bellies, at their gain.

2 It is contrary to their experience; a true Christian knows that the Doctrine of Antichrist is contrary to that experience he hath found; if they come to speak of Free Will, his own heart tells him, he was fain to be drawn out of himself, he found that he could very hardly be pulled out of his Natural estate, so that a Christian heart knows this is contrary to the truth. Let another say, we are justified by works, you cannot persuade a Christian to that, for he knows his best righteousness is defiled, Isa. 64.6. and when he hath done what he can he is but an unprofitable servant; when they tell him, there is merit and satisfaction in his Works, yea supererogation, no Christian but he knows this to be a lye, and that he deserves wrath for his best performances, he knows he is no way able to satisfy Gods Justice, or Gods Law, but only Christ satisfies for him. When they shall come to a poor soul and bid him confess his sins, and tell him they have power to absolve him from his sins, he knows it will not quiet his soul; tell a Christian, that going on Pilgrimages, and scourging himself will satisfy for his soul, he knows that is false; tell a Christian, he may fall away finally, he knows that is a lye, 2 Tim. 1.12. 1 Thes. 5.24.

2 It is contrary to their experience; a true Christian knows that the Doctrin of Antichrist is contrary to that experience he hath found; if they come to speak of Free Will, his owne heart tells him, he was fain to be drawn out of himselfe, he found that he could very hardly be puld out of his Naturall estate, so that a Christian heart knowes this is contrary to the truth. Let another say, we are justified by works, you cannnot perswade a Christian to that, for he knwows his best righteousnesse is defiled, Isa. 64.6. and when he hath done what he can he is but an unprofitable servant; when they tell him, there is merit and satisfaction in his Works, yea supererrogation, no Christian but he knows this to be a lye, and that he deserves wrath for his best performances, he knowes he is no way able to satisfie Gods Justice, or Gods Law, but only Christ satisfies for him. When they shall come to a poor soul and bid him confesse his sins, and tell him they have power to absolve him from his sins, he knows it will not quiet his soul; tell a Christian, that going on Pilgrimages, and scourging himselfe will satisfie for his soul, he knows that is false; tell a Christian, he may fall away finally, he knowes that is a lye,

3. They know the truth, because they have received it from a Messenger of truth.

4 They know the truth by the effects, by the peace and grace they find from the truth; and on the contrary, no Antichristian Doctrine ever brought peace to their souls, and there is no truth where no peace is, where you cannot find peace of Conscience, that Religion hath no saving truth in it; if they find not the fruit of peace, they know it is not of the truth.

4 They know the truth by the effects, by the peace and grace they finde from the truth; and on the contrary, no Antichristian Doctrin ever brought peace to their souls, and there is no truth where no peace is, where you cannot finde peace of Conscience, that Religion hath no saving truth in it; if they finde not the fruit of peace, they know it is not of the truth.

2 Another fruit of the true Religion, is, it brings liberty and freedom of spirit to come to God from Satan, from his Lusts, from the World, John 8.32. therefore if Religion do not make us free to come to God, and free from the World, and our own Lusts, surely that Religion is not of the truth, 2 Pet. 2.19. he speaks of these false Teachers, that they promise liberty, themselves being servants of sin.

2 Another fruit of the true Religion, is, it brings liberty and freedome of spirit to come to God from Sathan, from his Lusts, from the World, John 8.32. therefore if Religion do not make us free to come to God, and free from the World, and our own Lusts, surely that Religion is not of the truth, 2 Pet. 2.19. he speaks of these false Teachers, that they promise liberty, themselves being servants of sin.

Use 1 May serve to reprove all such as are at an uncertainty in their Religion, they know not which Religion to take, they say they find Reasons on both sides so probable, and there are some on both sides so corrupt, that they know not which to take; why, if it be so, you have not received the unction of the Spirit, for there is not the least of these little Children which have received this unction, but he knows the truth, and that no Lye is of the truth.

Ʋse 1 May serve to reprove all such as are at an uncertainty in their Religion, they know not which Religion to take, they say they finde Reasons on both sides so probable, and there are some on both sides so corrupt, that they know not which to take; why, if it be so, you have not received the unction of the Spirit, for there is not the least of these little Children which have received this unction, but hee knows the truth, and that no Lye is of the truth.

Use 2 For you that have took up your Religion, and the true Religion, but do you know your Religion to be the truth, and that it is no Lye? why they hope it is true, because the King and State follow it; but do you know it to be true, and do you know every contrary Doctrine to be a Lye? if you do not; you do not know what you should, Psal. 119.30. I have chosen the truth, he doth not say the State hath chosen it, or others have chosen it, and therefore I will follow it too; No, but I have chosen it, let others choose what they will; let every Christian know that he hath chosen the truth, and that no […]

Ʋse 2 For you that have took up your Religion, and the true Religion, but do you know your Religion to be the truth, and that it is no Lye? why they hope it is true, because the King and State follow it; but do you know it to be true, and do you know every contrary Doctrin to be a Lye? if you do not; you do not know what you should, Psal. 119.30. I have chosen the truth, he doth not say the State hath chosen it, or orhers have chosen it, and therefore I will follow it too; No, but I have chosen it, let others chuse what they will; let every Christian know that he hath chosen the truth, and that no 〈…〉

Use 3. It may teach all to grow up in discerning the truth, and that will discover all falsehood; as suppose you should have some come to you, and tell you, you frequent the ordinances, and perform good duties only in the Letter, but you ought to do nothing but when the Spirit moves you; but let a Christian examine if this be not a lye, and contrary to the truth, and to that experience I find, for we ought to pray continually; so if one come and tell you, you ought not to read the Scriptures, your own spirit tells you, you have as much need of the Word, as a Child of his daily Milk; therefore let Christians learn to discern of the Spirit of Truth and Error.

Ʋse 3. It may teach all to grow up in discerning the truth, and that will discover all falshood; as suppose you should have some come to you, and tell you, you frequent the ordinances, and perform good duties only in the Letter, but you ought to doe nothing but when the Spirit moves you; but let a Christian examine if this be not a lye, and contrary to the truth, and to that experience I finde, for we ought to pray continually; so if one come and tell you, you ought not to read the Scriptures, your own spirit tells you, you have as much need of the Word, as a Childe of his daily Milk; therefore let Christians learn to discerne of the Spirit of Truth and Errour.

1 JOHN 2.22. Who is a Liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? he is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son.

1 JOHN 2.22. Who is a Lyer, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? he is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son.